The Role of Social Media in Bullying and Teen Dating Violence PCA GA conference

The Role of Social Media
in Bullying and Teen
Dating Violence: Impacts
and Prevention
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
1
September 11, 2014
Amber McKeen
Kara Klein

The Role of Social Media in
Bullying and Teen Dating
Violence: Impacts and Prevention
Amber McKeen, Child Abuse Prevention Trainer
Kara Klein, CCLS, Child Life Specialist
Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children at
2
The planners (Amber McKeen, BS) and the speakers (Amber McKeen & Kara Klein, CCLS) for this series have disclosed
that they do not have any financial relationships with commercial supporters (pharmaceutical or device
manufacturers).

Objectives
• Assess the role of social media in bullying and
teen dating violence
• Recognize signs of bullying and teen dating
violence
• Discuss intervention and prevention strategies
that adults and teens can use to address online
bullying and abuse, and stay safe online as well
as in face-to-face interactions
3

How teens use technology to communicate
• Texting vs Calling
– Decline in the number of teens who report “talking” on
cell phone
• Computer vs hand held device
– Social media
– Apps
• Video games
– World of Warcraft, Xbox, PS4, etc
• ¼ teens are “cell-mostly users”
Madden et al., Teens and Technology 2013 (2013). Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Harvard University
4

Texting
• Most common form of communication
– 63% of teens say they exchange texts everyday
– 39% of teens say they talk on the phone everyday
– 35% socialize face-to-face outside of school
• New study suggests teens send around 60 texts a day
– Older teens (14-17) send the most texts – median of
100/day
• Read receipts
• Abbreviations
Lenhart, A. Teens, Smartphones and Texting (2013). Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project
6

“Sexting”
• Sending sexually explicit messages, photos or videos
primarily via cell phones or other social media
• Study conducted in 2011 of 948 high school students
in Texas
– 28% have sent a naked picture of themselves
– 31% have asked someone for a sext
– 57% had been asked to send a sext
• Sexting dangers include legal consequences
– Distribution of child pornography
7
Temple, JR, et al. Teen Sexting and Its Association With Sexual Behaviors.
Article. http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1212181

Social Media 411
• What is social media?
– Interaction among people
who create and
share/exchange information
and ideas in “virtual
networks”
– Uses mobile and web based
technology
– Not just “social sharing”
– Social networking
8

Social Media 411
• Hashtags
– People search for a specific hashtag
– Ex. I just did the #icebucketchallenge #ALS
– Loving this warm weather! #sun #finally #timetogettan
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57dzaMaouXA
9

Social Media 411
• GPS
– Geotagging adds geographical
identification to media
10

Have an iPhone? Grab it!
• Go to your Settings
• Then Privacy
• Now Location Services
• Scroll ALL the way to the BOTTOM
– System Services
• Then select Frequent Locations
– Scroll to History
11

Facebook
• Most used social networking site worldwide
• Allows friends to connect by sharing their “status”, photos,
articles, etc
• Social Status
– Teens showing waning interest in FB, yet continue to use it as
part of teenage socializing
– Teens focus on the maintenance and content of social media
presence
• Importance of “Likes”
• Automatic location tagged on posts and photos
• Threat of posting harassing or embarrassing information on FB
– “tagging”
12

Instagram
• Photo-sharing social networking site
– Artsy filters, likes
• Captions, hashtags, tag friends
• “Follow” friends/strangers/celebrities
• Screen names
13

Instagram
• Pros
– Sense of social acceptance
– Creativity
– Privacy settings
• Cons
– #snapchat #thot #kikme
– Geotagging
– Creepy vs popularity
14

Instagram
15

Twitter
• 140 character “tweet” limit
• Allows people to quickly and easily connect with
friends, celebrities, local organizations/businesses,
public figures, etc.
- Form of “microblogging”
- Retweeting
- @username
- # Hashtags
16

Twitter
17

Tinder
• Dating app
• Shows collection of
facebook photos to
interested parties in
area
• Demographic 18-32, but
getting younger
• Press heart if you find
person attractive, X if
not. If you match you
can start chatting
18

Blogging/Microblogging
Tumblr
– User can post photos, quotes, links, music, and videos
from your browser, phone, desktop, email
– User can customize look, color etc
– People can comment
– “banned” for children under the age of 13
19

Blogging/Microblogging
• Pros
– Can display art, recipes, projects
– Self expression, independence
• Cons
– Self harm and suicide promoting blogs
– Porn easy to find
– cyberbullying
20

ask.fm
• Social networking site where users can ask other
users questions
– It can be anonymous
– Anyone can see your page/content
• Based in Latvia
• Cons
– Sited as reason for numerous bullying and suicide
attempts, death threats
– No one monitors the content
• “If you receive a question that makes you uncomfortable for any
reason, do not respond to the question.”
21

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 22

Whisper
• Encourages users to share
secrets (anonymously)
• “Express yourself – share
secrets – meet new people”
• Text expressions of secrets
placed over stylized images
24

Whisper
• Pros
– Ways for people to express themselves and share thoughts
and fears
• Cons
– Cyberbullying
– Used to meet people
25

Messaging Apps
26
• Alternative to texting
– No message limits
– Use data or wi-fi
• Facebook Messenger
– Integrated with the FB chat
– “free texting from facebook”
– Stickers instead of emoticons
– Get messages instantly (like a text)
• Whatsapp
• Voxer
• Kik

Snapchat
• People exchange pictures and
videos which expire after a set
period of time (10 seconds or
less)
• “Pictures disappear”
– Screenshot, digging around in the
hidden files, taking a picture of
the phone with another phone
• Teens aged 13-15 in Montreal
charged with production,
possession and distribution of
child pornography
27

Snapchat
• “My Story” allows all snapchat friends to see your
story (compilation of photos/videos) for extended
periods of time
• Save snaps without the senders knowledge
– Snapbox (ios)
– Snapchat saver (android)
– Snapcrack (ios)
– SaveMySnaps (android)
– SnapSave (android)
28

Recognizing TDV & Bullying
29

What is Teen Dating Violence?
“The pattern of repeated actual or threatened acts that
physically, sexually, or verbally abuse a member of an
unmarried heterosexual or homosexual couple in
which one or both partners is between thirteen and
twenty years old”
Carlson, CN. Invisible Victims: Holding the Educational System Liable for Teen Dating Violence at School. Harvard
Women’s Law Journal, 26, 351-393

What is Cyberbullying?
Being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful
material or engaging in other forms of social aggression
using the internet or other forms of digital technology
Williard, N. Educator’s Guide to Cyberbullying, Cyberthreats, & Sexting. Center for Safe and Responsible Use of the
Internet.

Teen Power and
Control Wheel
Forms of Abuse
Physical
Emotional
Sexual
Electronic
Aggression
Herrman JW. (2009). There’s a Fine Line…Adolescent Dating Violence and Prevention. Pediatric Nursing, 35 (3), 164-170.

Cyberbullying vs. Traditional Bullying
Differences
Anonymous
Bully does not see victims reaction
Can occur at anytime
Messages and images can be distributed to large
number of people quickly
Many adults do not have the know how to keep
up with activity online so behavior often goes
unchecked
Standing up for yourself can cause the problems
to escalate
Similarities
Repetition of events
Imbalance of power
Likely to be a victim of both traditional and
cyberbullying
Kowalski, R & Limber, S.P. (2007). Electronic Bullying Among Middle School Students. Journal of Adolescent Health,
41, S22-S30. Hinduja S and Patchin JW, Overview of Cyberbullying, White House Conference on Bullying
Prevention, March 2011

Warning signs: Victim
⁻ Appears nervous or jumpy
when an IM or email appears
⁻ Appears uneasy about going
to school/outside
⁻ Appears angry, depressed, or
frustrated after using
technology
⁻ Avoids discussion about what
doing on computer or cell
phone
⁻ Becomes abnormally
withdrawn from family and
friends
– Apologizes for the behavior
or makes excuses for it
– Frequently worries about
making partner angry
– Stops doing things that are
important to them to make
partner happy
– Cancels plans with friends
at the last minute
– Afraid to break up because
partner may hurt them, or
themselves
Reviving Ophelia clip

Warning signs: Bully/Aggressor
– Says what to do or wear
– Makes false accusations or
constantly accuses partner of
cheating
– Doesn’t want their partner
spending time with others
– Blames partner for their
problems
– Has huge mood swings and
goes from being really angry
to very sweet in short periods
of time
⁻ Quickly switching
screens/closing programs
when you walk by
⁻ Gets unusually upset when
computer/cell phone
privileges taken away
⁻ Avoids discussing what do
online
⁻ Appears to be using
multiple accounts, or
account that is not their
own

Who’s at Risk?
• Teen brain development
• Victims of child sexual abuse
• Parental involvement
• Geographic region
• Neighborhood/school
• Music/Media
37

Why is TDV an issue?
• Consequences to victim
– Mental health
– Low self-esteem
– Injuries, death
• Consequences to perpetrator
– Expulsion
– Criminal record
– Mental health
• Cycle of violence
38

Prevalence of TDV in Georgia
12.4% of teens report dating violence
#4 in the US
Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2013

How Often Does Cyberbullying Occur?
• Percentage of youth that report being victims of
cyberbullying has increased by 50% from 2000 to
2005
• Adolescents reporting being a victim range from 5%
to 70%
– Approximately 20% of 11-18 yr olds report being a victim
– Approximately 20% of 11-18 yr olds report bullying online
• 10% of youth report having been both aggressor and
victim

Social Media and Pop Culture
Influences
43

Considerations
• Social Media
– Threat of posting harassing or embarrassing information
• Texting
– Texting their partner every hour between 10pm and 5am
– Experiencing harassment, name-calling, or put downs
from current or former dating partner
• Sexting
– 50% of teens admit they feel pressured to “sext”
• 18% shared the images with others
• GPS
– Tracking
44

Cyberstalking
• Use of internet or electronic means to stalk or harass an
individual
• “Face-Stalking”
• “Lurking”
• Noah
• Written, Directed, Produced, Edited by Walter Woodman & Patrick Cederberg
For permission to view the video, contact walter@koalamotion.com &
patrick@koalamotion.com
45

Tumblr
• Young teen gf “best revenge pics”
• “exboyfriendrevenge”
47

Whisper
48

Media and Pop Culture Influences
Be thinking about…
• Teen role models and influences
• How can we use our knowledge of this information
to challenge common beliefs about relationship
norms and what is acceptable
• Normalizing behaviors
50

Kourtney Kardashian &
Scott Disick
Alcohol fueled tirades ,
Kourtney concerned for
her and her son’s safety
“Real Life” Examples
51
WIREIMAGE
PUBLISHED: 06/25/2013 10:08:37
Sammie Giancola and Ronnie Ortiz-
Magro
No more amore! 'Jersey Shore's' on-off-on-off
couple Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Sammi
(Sweetheart) Giancola have broken up ...
again. The pair called it quits shortly after
the show's fourth season finale aired.
Rihanna & Chris Brown
On Again Off Again couple since
Brown’s Assault on Rihanna in 2009.
At the time of the assault he was 19
and she was 20 .

Reactions to Chris Brown’s brutal
assault on Rihanna
52

“Reality” TV Shows
• Violence = good ratings
• High entertainment value of domestic violence
• Does this normalize these behaviors?
• The “Real World” on MTV
53

Music Videos
• Misery- Maroon 5
• We Found Love- Rihanna and Calvin Harris
• Want U Back- Cher Lloyd
• Criminal- Britney Spears
• It Will Rain- Bruno Mars
• Paparazzi- Lady Gaga
• Love The Way You Lie- Eminem and Rihanna
• Man Down- Rihanna
54

Reporting Teen Dating Violence
• Only 1 in 11 episodes of dating violence reported
• Variety of reasons why teens do not report:
– Unaware it is abuse
– Denial
– Stigma
– Self-blame
– Adult beliefs:
• 81% believe DV is not a teen problem
• Fail to validate teens feelings for partner
• Teen relationships are not serious, easy to get out
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dating Matters: Understanding Teen Dating Violence Prevention.

Who do teens tell?

What you can do
• As a professional
– Maintain security on all public devices
– Educate parents and children about safe internet usage
– Maintain familiarity with emerging trends in technology
– www.commonsensemedia.com
58

ˉ Determine extent of problem in your
school/community and gather a group of
stakeholders to combat the issue
ˉ Evaluate internet use policies
ˉ if necessary, implement new policies to monitor
Internet use of students
ˉ Have parents and children sign policy agreeing on
proper use of school district technology
What you can do
• School setting
Agatston, P.W., Kowalski, R, & Limber, S. (2007). Students’ Perspectives on Cyber Bullying. Journal of Adolescent
Health, 41, S59-S60.; Williard, N. (2007). The Authority and Responsibility of School Officials in Responding to
Cyberbullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, S64-S65.

⁻ Engage youth to move from initiator 
disengaged onlookers positive defenders
⁻ Engage youth leaders and peer mentors
⁻ Include bullying and abuse prevention programs &
train school staff
⁻ Address known cases of bullying/abuse
immediately and develop creative response
strategies to deal with it
What you can do
• School setting
Agatston, P.W., Kowalski, R, & Limber, S. (2007). Students’ Perspectives on Cyber Bullying. Journal of Adolescent
Health, 41, S59-S60.; Hinduja S and Patchin JW, Overview of Cyberbullying, White House Conference on Bullying
Prevention, March 2011

Policies Regarding Cyberbullying
• School can prohibit student speech if it
would substantially interfere with work of
school or impinge upon rights of other
students, including their right to be secure
Tinker v. Des
Moines Indep.
Cnty. Sch. Dist. 393
U.S. 503 (1969)
• Georgia has laws regarding cyberbullying
but only if it occurs on school district
technology
State laws on
bullying
Summary of State Laws on Cyberbullying
Williard, N. (2007). The Authority and Responsibility of School Officials in Responding to Cyberbullying. Journal of
Adolescent Health, 41, S64-S65.

What you can do
• As a parent
– Talk to your kids about internet safety!
– Familiarize yourself with the technology your teens and
young children are using
• Continue to keep pace with new trends
– Place parental control blocks on internet connected
devices
– Create joint accounts (make them private)
– Turn off geo-location services
– Approve followers/friends
– Have passwords and let them know you can check anytime
62

As a Caregiver- talk to your kids EARLY
• Teach teens about healthy vs. unhealthy relationships
• They need to feel secure talking to you
• Create a supportive environment
– Be available
– Show respect for each other
– Need to be able to trust you
– Show interest by asking
questions in a comfortable
order and style
Choose Respect: www.cdc.gov/chooserespect

Educate about Social Networking Safety
• Teach teens about media literacy- need to think
critically about the messages they are receiving
– Social and News Media
• Help teens build their own voice, values and goals
• When online:
– Always ask everyone if it’s alright to “check them in”
(geotag)
– Rule of thumb: don’t do or say anything online you
wouldn’t in person
64

Guidelines for Introducing Conversation
• Start with a general question
• Let your teen be the expert on his/her world
• Relate your discussion to things they are interested
in
– Use examples we discussed, or find your own
• Ask how you can help

Create Rules
• Set an age for dating
• Make sure your teen is not spending a lot of time in
unsupervised situations
• Set guidelines for your teen’s outings
• Be aware of what your teens are
doing and who they are with
• Impose rules on internet use
– 40% of adolescents report parents do not impose rules

Everyone interacting with teens could…
• Model healthy behaviors
• Recognize red flags
• Listen to teens without judging when they ask for
help
• Be supportive, and avoid criticizing their dating
partner
• Be aware of resources that can help teens being
bullied or involved in abusive relationships

What if you find a teen is being victimized?
Brainstorm with teens – who to call, where to go if in
imminent danger, what they should take with them
– Encourage them:
• To tell parents or family members if there is someone they are
afraid of
• To try not to be alone with their partner- go out in public
places, try to always keep a cell phone on them, let other’s
know where they are
• If they’re breaking up, don’t break up in person/alone
• To always tell an adult or someone who can help if someone
threatens violence

What if you find a teen is being victimized
online?
• Change passwords & block access to social networking
• Don’t respond or retaliate to online harassment
• Keep a record of any harassing messages, posts or comments
– Save the documents/emails
– Take screenshots
Safety Plan

Remember:
It’s ok if you don’t have all the answers – be
honest and offer to help find out the facts
together
Lil Wayne How to Love

Resources- Teen Dating Violence
• National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline: 1-866-331-9474,
www.loveisrespect.org
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
• National Center for Victims of Crime: www.ncvc.org
• Nat’l Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center:
www.safeyouth.org
• Choose Respect Initiative: www.cdc.gov/chooserespect

Resources- Teen Dating Violence
• Safe Dates: Prevention program for dating abuse
http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=142
• Healthy Relationships curriculum http://www.m4c.ns.ca/
• Futures Without Violence http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/
• Safety Plans- www.endabuse.org and www.ndvh.org
• Respect Works! http://www.respect-works.com/
• www.commonsensemedia.com

Resources- Bullying/Cyberbullying
• Programs for peer leaders in schools www.sourcesofstrength.org
• Stop Bullying Now: www.stopbullying.hrsa.gov
• A Thin Line: www.athinline.org/drawyourline
• STRYVE: Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere:
www.safeyouth.gov
• Teens Against Bullying: www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org
• Kids Against Bullying: www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org
• Stop Bullying: Speak Up:
http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/promotion_landing_page/st
opbullying/index.html
• Youth Frontiers: www.youthfrontiers.org
• Bully Bust: www.schoolclimate.org/bullybust
• Bi-Annual event to STAND up against bullying www.standupday.com
• LGBTQ bullying support www.itgetsbetter.org

Resources- Bullying/Cyberbullying
• Olweus Bullying Prevention Program: www.olweus.org
• New website launched by the US government launched in March of this
year www.stopbullying.gov
• Parent guidebook http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/net-cetera.aspx
• State Policies on bullying www.nasbe.org/healthy_schools/hs/index.php
• State of Massachusetts model plan for school policy on bullying
www.doe.mass.edu/bullying/modelplan.pdf
• Center For Safe and Responsible Internet Use: www.cyberbullying.org
• National Crime Prevention Council: www.ncpc.org
• PACER Center-National Center for Bullying Prevention:
www.pacer.org/bullying
• PBS Kids GO http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/
• American School Counselor bullying report form

Questions?
More training opportunities
www.choa.org/cptraining
Amber McKeen
Amber.McKeen@choa.org
Kara Klein
Kara.Klein@choa.org
75

“This project was supported in part by the Governor’s Office
for Children and Families through the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and
Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590). Points of view or opinions
stated in this document are those of the author(s) and do not
necessarily represent the official position or policies of the
Governor’s Office for Children and Families or the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590)."

The Role of Social Media in Bullying and Teen Dating Violence PCA GA conference

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (7)

Similar to The Role of Social Media in Bullying and Teen Dating Violence PCA GA conference

Similar to The Role of Social Media in Bullying and Teen Dating Violence PCA GA conference (20)

More from Georgia State School of Public Health

More from Georgia State School of Public Health (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

The Role of Social Media in Bullying and Teen Dating Violence PCA GA conference

Editor's Notes